News
HONOR ‘fastest-growing’ book-style foldable vendor in Europe: Counterpoint
Magic V2, Magic V3 key contributors to HONOR’s tripled market share
HONOR continues to build its presence in Europe as a smartphone vendor. According to Counterpoint Research insights, the company tripled its market share in the region for book-style foldables in 2024, making it the fastest-growing book-type foldable OEM in the region.
HONOR entered the European foldables market with its Magic V series offerings in early 2023, challenging Samsung which had been the dominant player in the category.
By the end of the same year, already HONOR placed second behind Samsung in terms of book-style foldables.
The following year, HONOR’s Magic V2 accounted for 27% of book-type foldable sales in Europe, per Counterpoint.
Together, the Magic V2 and Magic V3 enabled HONOR to triple their market share from 11% to 34% that year, on a year-on-year sales growth of 377%.
Such growth meant HONOR accounted for 70% of the overall growth particularly for book-style models in Europe.
Book-style models on the rise in Europe
More and more brands have been introducing foldable smartphones in the past few years. And European markets have been receptive to them so far.
Counterpoint mentioned that clamshell-type foldable sales grew 19% from 2023 to 2024. But while they are still more prominent than book-style models due to the former’s cheaper average price, the latter is beginning to gain traction as well.
Consumers are beginning to favor book-type foldables as well. The sales ratio of clamshell-type to book-type foldables shifting from 70:30 to 55:45 by the first half of 2024 can attest to this.
Samsung-HONOR rivalry continues
Of course, eager to maintain its status as the best-selling foldable phone in Europe, Samsung launched its latest Z series offerings — the Z Fold7 and Z Flip7.
But HONOR is likewise motivated to make the most out of the momentum, with the HONOR Magic V5 launching in London on August 28.
It is currently the world’s slimmest foldable at just 8.8mm when folded. Beyond the form factor, Counterpoint said a “seamless fusion of platform-level AI and market-leading hardware” — including flagship cameras —”can be a winning combination” for HONOR.
While Samsung is still the market shares leader at 50% in 2024, this figure is actually 23 percentage points lower than the South Korean tech giant’s 2023 market share of 73%.
Another key contributor to this is the introduction of other foldables from brands like OPPO, OnePlus, and TECNO in Europe.
‘Exciting time for the industry’
Lastly, Counterpoint projects that book-type foldable smartphone sales will reach almost 4 million units a year by 2028.
That’s the equivalent of 2% of total smartphone sales. Meanwhile, foldable phones, regardless of type, are expected to reach almost 10% of sales in Europe’s premium segment. They can even reach a higher share in key markets like the United Kingdom and Germany.
With Apple reportedly working on its own foldable phone and with Google also launching the Pixel 10 Pro Fold soon, it is clear that the foldables competition in Europe is getting tighter than ever.
News
nubia to launch new Neo 5 series gaming phones on March 28
Head to SM Megamall for activities, guest appearances, surprises
nubia Philippines will officially launch the nubia Neo 5 series gaming smartphone on March 28 at their “Enter The NEOVerse: Born To Win” event. It will be held at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall in Metro Manila.
The nubia Neo 5 series’ design and details will be unveiled during the event. It is inspired by the REDMAGIC Gaming Lab, which is behind the REDMAGIC’s high-performance gaming ecosystem.
The nubia Neo 5 series will introduce a bold gaming-centric aesthetic, paired with performance-driven specs.
Customers can expect a sleek, futuristic styling, as well as powerful hardware engineered to elevate everyday mobile gameplay.
Across the lineup, users can expect high refresh rate displays, powerful processors, advanced cooling systems, and the familiar gaming triggers from the previous series.
It does look like nubia is adding AI-powered gaming optimization to give players an extra edge for every competitive match.
All these, of course, minus the flagship price tag.
Enter the NEOverse
At nubia’s launch event, the activity area will be transformed into a gaming-inspired universe.
Guests can explore interactive zones, participate in challenges, and experience the nubia Neo 5 series firsthand. They can also unlock exclusive rewards and prizes.
Moreover, the event will feature appearances from nubia ambassadors Sanya Lopez and ONIC Philippines.
From there, there will be 1v1 gaming sessions with ONIC PH players, as well as a special “Play” segment featuring a yet-to-be-revealed cosplayer.
nubia will also offer event-exclusive deals for early shoppers during the launch. Customers can enjoy up to seven premium freebies per nubia Neo 5 model. This is available for the first 100 customers.
Furthermore, nubia will officially announce its TikTok Super Brand Week, as well as partnerships with Yanlala and Geely.
News
REDMI Note 15 Series named Presenting Partner for Spartan Race Philippines 2026 season
Titan Toughness takes center stage!
Being a Spartan athlete for five years has taught me that endurance isn’t just about physical strength; it’s about the mental grit to keep moving when your body begs you to stop.
In this world, “toughness” becomes more than just a marketing buzzword. Now, it’s a requirement for survival. That’s why the partnership between Spartan Race Philippines and the REDMI Note 15 Series feels like a shared philosophy.
Partner for a tough course
Starting March 21, 2026, at Parklinks, Pasig City, the REDMI Note 15 Series officially joins the Spartan circuit.
For someone who has navigated these obstacles for years, I know that technology usually doesn’t belong in the mud. But the “Titan Tough” promise of the REDMI Note 15 is built for this exact routine.
It’s designed to be there for the moments that matter. For capturing the raw, unpolished triumph of the finish line; for surviving the grit of the course so you can focus on the next hurdle; and for finding the device at the heart of the festival area and the winner’s circle, mirroring the resilience of the athletes themselves.
Join the journey
Whether you are a seasoned elite racer or stepping into your first Open heat, this season is about testing your limits.
To help you get to that starting line, you can use the discount code REDMINOTE15 to get 10% OFF on all Spartan Race OCR, Spartan Kids Race, and Hurricane Heat events.
See you at the starting line. AROO!
HONOR Philippines has launched its latest mass-market smartphone entry that caters to students and the youthful market in general: the HONOR X8d.
The budget smartphone is priced at PhP 15,999 and is available in Blue, Velvet Black, and Velvet Grey colors.
As part of launch offers, those who pre-order until March 27 can get a free accessory and can also avail of 0% installment plans via credit cards and Home Credit.
Customers can get the device through Lazada, Shopee, and HONOR stores.
REVIEW: The HONOR X8d is serviceable
The HONOR X8d is powered by a Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 processor and comes with 8GB of RAM (plus 8GB expansion) and 256GB of storage.
It has a large 7,000mAh battery which supports 45W charging, making it a very long-lasting daily value companion.
The device features a 6.77-inch 120Hz display which has up to 3,000 nits of brightness, making it useful for practical situations.
The handset comes with usual display certifications and protections, including 3840Hz PWM dimming, E-Book mode, SGS drop resistance, and an IP65 rating.
For its cameras, the X8d has a 108MP main camera, plus a 16MP front camera. The main shooter can capture decent quality at 1x, 2x, and 3x zoom ranges.
There are also handy AI editing tools like AI Eraser, AI Cutout, and AI Upscale.
Out of the box, the HONOR X8d runs on MagicOS 10 based on Android 16. It also has staple productivity tools like AI Translate, AI Writing, AI Notes, and AI Recorder, alongside features such as Magic Portal and Circle to Search.
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